This Sprinter Van Is an Off-Road-Ready Tiny Home on Wheels With a Dark, Masculine Interior

What we have here is a 2020 4x4 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 144" wheelbase transformed into a meticulously crafted tiny home on wheels. John initially started the conversion himself but soon realized it would take him too long to finish it. So, he reached out to a specialized van conversion company and decided to pay for a professional-grade build.

A professional conversion will involve much higher costs, but it can end up being worth it due to the time you save and the quality you get if you opt for the services of a premium company. So, what's the better choice: convert it yourself or pay someone to do it? Ultimately, there's no right decision, but rather the best one for your specific context.

As usual, I will start with the exterior tour of this vehicle. While the factory off-road capabilities of this Sprinter were pretty good, John made two other modifications that made it easier for him to go off the beaten path: he upgraded the suspension kit and installed all-terrain tires.

John also equipped the vehicle with flares that extend the interior space, as well as running boards. John explained that the latter feature had saved his van on a few occasions. What's more, the front part of the vehicle is occupied by a bumper housing two lights and a winch system.

At the rear, you'll find a ladder/spare tire carrier. On the roof, this rig's builders fitted a rack holding a WeBoost antenna and traction boards. There are no solar panels on this camper van. John didn't install any because he's a photographer, and he needed extra walking space on the roof.

Pop the main door open, and you'll be greeted by a dark yet beautiful interior. But before we head inside, I have to tell you about the features you'll find just behind the door. Integrated into the kitchen counter is a fold-down panel, which can serve as an outdoor table. Underneath, there's a shoe storage spot.

Regarding design, John opted for a cozy and masculine aesthetic with a slatted wood ceiling and black walls paired with grey tones. He also chose an open layout, meaning the driver's cabin isn't separated from the living space.

Dead ahead of the entrance, you'll discover the seating area. It consists of a bench and a swivel table. Furthermore, the driver's and passenger's seats in the front can be swiveled to face the interior and be within reach of the swivel table.

For storage, you can use two sizeable overhead cabinets above the seating area, a floor-to-ceiling storage unit housing a closet with drawers underneath, or the space underneath the bench.

Next, we have the kitchen, which covers part of the entry door. It features a matte black Fenix countertop (made from paper and thermosetting resins), a deep sink with a cover, and a relatively small Isotherm fridge/freezer. Moreover, John explained that he prefers eating out, so he didn't opt for a built-in stove.

The rear part of the interior is taken up by the bedroom. It boasts a short queen-size bed with a memory foam mattress, a long and spacious overhead shelf, and a small fan. Since John installed flares, he had the space to mount the bed from side to side. What's more, the flare the driver's side of the van has an awning-style window complete with a bug screen and insulated black-out covers.

When it comes to heating and cooling, John made sure he could adjust the interior temperature from the comfort of his bed. A controller for a diesel heater installed under the passenger seat is attached to one of the bedroom walls, perfectly within reach from the bed.

This Sprinter came with the original passenger A/C at the rear. John explained that it was enough to satisfy his cooling needs. However, the A/C can run only while the engine is running. So, John installed a remote starter for the engine, enabling him to turn on the A/C from the bed. The starter has a timer that turns off the engine after 30 minutes.

This camper's bedroom is positioned higher up to leave room for a garage underneath, accessible only by opening the two rear doors. Although it might not look like it at first sight, it offers a ton of room due to a clever arrangement of the space.

Just like on most build, the sides of the garage are occupied by the utility systems. The plumbing system is on the right, comprising a 30-gallon (114-liter) freshwater tank, a 10-gallon (38-liter) water heater, and an outdoor shower.

The power system's on the opposite side – its highlights are 400 Ah lithium batteries and a DC-DC charger. Despite not having solar panels, John explaiend that his battery level never dropped under 75% since he drives very often and the DC-DC charger keeps the batteries juiced up.

The middle part of the garage is made of three parts: an empty space, two massive drawers mounted on 500-lb. (227-kg) sliders, and a large slide-out table.

All in all, John's tiny home on wheels nicely blends aesthetics and functionality into an attractive package. Unfortunately, we don't know how much this Sprinter camper van ended up costing, but I'm pretty sure it was at least $100,000 (€93,370), including the base vehicle.